Tourism

Welcome to Merrill, the doorway to the great Wisconsin Northwood’s! We are located in North Central Wisconsin in Lincoln County where the four seasons come alive with picturesque beauty and natural year-round outdoor recreational activities. Nature’s gifts are abundant here with cranberry bogs, maple syrup production and a world renowned evergreen industry. Our motto is Location. Nature. People.

Location. Nature. People.

Due to our geographic location adjacent to I-39, our community enjoys a diverse industrial and manufacturing base that includes metals, window, door and product packaging, as well as being an ideal base for several distribution centers. Merrill is also home to Church Mutual Insurance Company, the world’s largest insurer of worship centers, Weinbrenner Shoes, world-wide producer of safety work boots and military footwear and Reindl Printing, one of Wisconsin’s leading printing companies.

Location. Nature. People.

Our natural environment is historic and abundant offering untold options for the sportsman and outdoor enthusiasts. Merrill was incorporated as a logging community in 1883 along the banks of the great Wisconsin River which meanders throughout the town and offers fishing, boating and camping experiences. There are more than 727 lakes in Lincoln County and more than 101,000 acres of public recreational land that offers public forests and trail systems.

Merrill has been dubbed ‘The City of Parks’ because of its 300 acres of parkland which offers recreational activities galore; hiking, ATV trails, horseback riding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, biking and cross country skiing trails. In addition to the aforementioned parkland, one of Wisconsin’s best state parks – Council Grounds – and a portion of the historic Ice Age Trail also calls Merrill home.

Location. Nature. People.

Merrill is a great place to raise a family. We have an excellent school system that awards over $600,000 in scholarships annually to graduating seniors that are made available by Merrill benefactors. Our public library overlooking a scenic park, partially housed in a beautiful, historic building is a Carnegie Award winner and has all the amenities of a much larger city library. Superior health care is available for all ages with our hospital and choice of area clinics offering excellent medical care and services, including several outstanding assisted care facilities. Our residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life in a community that is safe, friendly and activities are plentiful year-round, ranging from festivals to sports activities and many active community groups from Rotary to gardening clubs.

For the history buff, there is plenty to see in Merrill. It’s unusual for a small community of 10,000 to boast having four historic public buildings, a rare three-arch stone bridge and a historic district that includes 19 homes on the National Register of Historic Places and three additional National Register eligible districts comprised of numerous significant historical and register eligible homes. In addition, our business corridors are lines with historic and architecturally significant buildings and facades throughout. We also have an active Historical Society and museum offering numerous programs and activities throughout the year.

Visit Merrill….”a reason for every season”.

A Reason for every season

No matter when you visit Merrill, something is always going on.

Spring - enjoy the blossoming of trees, flowers and plants. Enjoy the the outdoors walking along the River Bend Trail, cleaning out your house and get ready for the Spring Annual Community Wide Rummage Sale, enjoy the music at the Annual Concertina Festival, the Kolor Run will help you relieve some stress and stop out and see the talents of the children of Merrill at Dorinda's Annual Production.

Summer - balls are flying whether it is kids or adults, walking tours, Wisconsin River Pro Rodeo, 4th of July Fireworks, Mud Bogs, Merrill City Band, Gazebo Nights at Normal Park, Tractor Pull, Movie in the Park, Lincoln County Fair, Lobsterfest, Softball Tournaments, Baseball Tournaments and of course, Crazy Daze. The fun just doesn't stop there, enjoy the Bierman Family Aquatic Center at the Smith Center, or picking strawberries or blueberries. Ride your ATV or UTV around the trails, grab your kayak, canoe, boat or any floating device and float down the Wisconsin River.

Fall - get ready for the fall sports. Take a nice drive and enjoy the array of color, stop and pick some apples or stroll in one of the many parks. The Fall Community Wide Rummage Sale will help you replace the back to school clothes your children have already out grown. Want to see a plane up close, there is a great chance at the Merrill Airport Days. Do you enjoy ribs, than Pork in the Park Ribfest if just for you. Here you are able to try and vote for your favorite cook. Other food and refreshments are available. Colorama is a chance for you to go on a ride on your bicycle through the all the fall colors. Enjoy a nice fall day and walk the streets of downtown Merrill for the Annual Chili Blast. Things don't stop there, the annual Lincoln Lager Barleyfest, one place where you are able to try over 100 different micro-brews. Start your Christmas shopping at the annual Craft Sales around the Merrill area. Plus you are able to participate in the Poker Run.

Winter - we kick off the season with our Annual Christmas parade along with O'Tannenbaum Tour and Park Manor Luminara. If you need to get out of the house, come out to the MARC - Smith Center to watch some Youth Hockey or enjoy open skate. Grab a sled and make a run down the hill. Check and see if the snowmobile trails are open. Head out to Council Grounds for cross county skiing, snowshoeing, or the Merrill Ice Drags (Drag racing on ice). Take a short drive to Gleason for their Ice Oval racing. Want to see a dog smile, head out to the Trailblazers Sled Dog races and see what the animals love to do. Many of the local parks have outdoor ice skating rinks, with rentals and warming houses. Need to warm up - well, Elvis is in the building. Get those Blue Suede Shoe out and head over to Love Me Tender.

Whatever the season, you can always enjoy taking a stroll along the River Bend Trail. Many parks have playground equipment, volleyball, basketball or tennis courts. Not far from Merrill, the Underdown - Horse, bike and snowshoe trails. Grandfather dam - a great hike with beautiful scenery. Need to take a break, stop at one of our excellent retail stores or restaurants.